Toy



' y 30, 1944! R. K. OSTRANDER 2,349,984

TOY

Filed Nov. 9, 1943 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 1944- R. K. OSTRANDER 2,349,984

TOY

Filed Nov. 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 2 Yfi gVENTOi T ATTORNEYS i Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED, [STATES PATENT OFFICE I TOY Robert K. Ostrander, South Orange, N. J., assignor to BadgerCut Outs, Inc., MaspetlnLong Island, N. Y; a corporation of New York Application November 9, 1943, Serial No. 509,548

i 6 Claims. 01. 46146 This invention relates to toys and pertains particularly to toys of a type known as jackin' the box.

It is an objectof the invention to provide a toy of this type which can be made entirely of heavy paper or cardboard, without the use of the customary metal springs, thus making possible a very inexpensive construction of a type of toy which is very popular with small children.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appea hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of theinvention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of one of the elements of the lazy tong assembly.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the other element.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the toy showing the box opened and the lazy tong assembly in expanded condition.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the box closed and the lazy tong assembly in compressed condition, and

Figure 5 is a perspective View similar to Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the toy comprises a. resilient lazy tong assembly consisting of twoelongated strips of heavy paper or cardboard designated by the numerals I and 2. The strip I carries on its upper end an enlarged panel 3 which may be shaped and decorated in the form of any desired face or figure. The panel 3 is preferably integral with the strip l and is hinged thereto by a transverse fold line 4. The remainder of the strip is divided into a series of smaller panels 5 by transverse fold lines 6, the successive fold lines being folded in opposite directions to provide a zig-zag conformation. The end panel 1 at the bottom of the strip is shaped in the form of a tab for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The strip 2 is likewise divided into a series of small panels 8 by transverse fold lines 9, the successive fold lines being likewise folded in opposite directions to form a zig-zag conformation. but the top end panel I0 is formed in the shape of a tab for purposes hereinafter set forth. The strip 2 carries on its lower end an enlarged. panel ll, preferably integral with the strip 2, and is hinged thereto by the transverse fold line (2.

The opposed edges of the strips I' and 2 are provided with matching slots l3 extending inwardly from the respective edges of the strip to the median lines thereof, whereby the two strips may be assembled in overlapping relation by meshing the opposed slots to form a lazy tong structure ofsurprising resilience. In assembling the strips, the tab I0 .is insertedthroughthe slot [4- in the stripl and thetabfl is inserted in the slot 15 in the panel ll, thus holding the strips in properly assembled relationship.

The panel ll serves as a bottom for the box I6 which may be of any desired construction. However, for purposes of economy in construction and packing, I prefer to form the box of a single piece of heavy paper or cardboard, having fold lines ll defining the side panels of the box, and having a separate fold line l8 defining a lid It], If desired, the bottom panel ll may be provided with tabs 20 fitting into slots 2| in the side panels of the box to hold the bottom panel in position.

After the toy is assembled, the lazy tong strip assembly may be compressed until the lid of the box can be closed as shown in Figure 4. Upon releasing the lid, the compression in the lazy tong strip assembly is sufficient to flip open the lid and to cause the end panel 3 to be projected some distance beyond the confines of the box.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A toy comprising, in combination, a box, said box having a bottom anda hinged lid, and a resilient lazy tong assembly mounted within said box and confined under compression between said bottom and said lid, and adapted on release of said lid to expand to project the upper end thereof beyond the confines of the box.

2. A toy comprising, in combination, a box, said box having a bottom and a hinged lid, and a resilient lazy tong assembly mounted within said box and confined under compression between said bottom and said lid, and adapted on release of said lid to expand to project the upper end thereof beyond the confines of the box, said assembly comprising two strips of cardboard, each having a plurality of transverse fold lines with the successive fold lines of each strip folded in opposite directions.

3. A toy comprising, in combination, a box,

4. A toy comprising, in combination, a box, said box having a bottom and a hinged lid, and a resilient lazy tong assembly mounted within said box and confined under compression between said bottom and said lid, and adapted on release of having a tab formed therein, and the other or said strips having a slot to receive said tab.

5. A toy comprising, in combination, abox,

said box having a bottom and a hinged lid, and a resilient lazy tong assembly mounted within said box and confined under compression between said bottom and said lid,-and adapted on release of said lid to expand to project the upper end thereof beyond the confines of the box, said assembly comprising two strips of cardboard, 'each' having a plurality of transverse fold lines with'the successive fold lines of each strip folded in opposite directions, the upper end of one of said strips having a tab formed therein, and the other of said strips having a slot to receive said tab, the lower end of one of said strips terminating in an enlarged panel constituting a bottom for said box, said panel having a slot therein, the lower end of the other of said strips having a tab formed therein for insertion in said slot.

6. A toy comprising, in combination, a box, said box having a bottom and a hinged lid, and a resilient lazy tong assembly mounted within said box and confined under compression between said bottom and said lid, and adapted on release oi said lid to expand to project the upper end thereof beyond the confines of the box, said assembly comprising two strips of cardboard having oppositely disposed edge slots meshed together, and said strips being folded to provide a zig-zag conformation, the lower end of one of said strips terminating in an enlarged panel constitutin a 2 bottom for said box, said panel having a slot therein, the lower end of the other of said strips having a tab formed therein for insertion in said slot.

ROBERT K. OSTRANDER. 

